Legal Studies (LS)

LS100: Introduction to the Law and Legal Profession

This course examines the foundation, organization, and structure of the American legal system with an emphasis on the careers available in the legal profession through an exploration of the roles and responsibilities in the legal field. Students will learn the professional and ethical practices needed to succeed as a legal support professional or as a legal specialist.

Quarter Credit Hours: 5 | Prerequisite: None

LS185: Introduction to American Jurisprudence

It is important for members of the legal support team to have a strong foundation in the fundamental rules, court cases, concepts, and trends of key subjects in American law. This course provides an American legal background covering civil and common law traditions, the legal profession, constitutional law, and a survey of specific areas of law. Upon successful completion of this course you will have a solid understanding of the American legal system.

Two of the most basic tasks performed by a legal support team member are legal research and written analysis - finding the law, analyzing the component parts of written opinions, and applying the reasoning of relevant legal authorities to a factual situation. Upon successful completion of this course you will have gained specialized skills in the area of legal research and the ability to analyze and synthesize legal authority. Additionally, you will be able to draft correspondence and memoranda commonly used in the practice of law.

This course focuses on researching legal issues and drafting legal documents using the results of student research. Emphasis will be placed on briefing and analyzing court opinions and other legal sources, applying the legal rationale to a given factual situation, and drafting documents commonly used in legal practice. This course also teaches you how to present the results of research in a professional manner.

LS298: Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services Capstone

This course is designed as the culminating experience of the Associate of Applied Science in Legal Support and Services. This course comprises a series of assignments that integrate the core concepts from the judicial studies and practice program outcomes and curriculum. The assignments are designed to test knowledge, technical skills, and competencies as students work through fact-based scenarios and assess issues affecting practical legal matters.

Quarter Credit Hours: 5 | Prerequisite: Final term or Dean approval

LS302: Environmental Law and Policy

This course is an exploration of the statutory and regulatory basis of environmental law and will provide a basic overview of the major state and federal acts and regulations governing environmental law.

This course provides students with a view of constitutional law's historical development of legal principles as well as the philosophical foundations of American legal principles. Significant trends in constitutional law as well as current issues in development of law and the balance between bureaucracy and democracy in a free society are presented.

The student completing this course will learn about the law as a generic entity with pervasive influence in all aspects of social interaction, formation, and change. Theories of design, enforcement, and remediation under the American system and interacting with different global systems will provide the student the opportunity to gain appreciation of the value, reach, and utility of a well-defined legal system.

This course introduces the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system as it applies to business in the contemporary global economy. Areas covered include the legal environment of business, torts and crimes, contracts, employment relations, and business organizations. The course will also look at the relationship between business and law in the context of current events that impact our communities.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: None

LS311M1: How Law Affects Business

Examine how law affects business.

Quarter Credit Hours: 1 | Prerequisite: None

LS311M2: Relationship of Torts to Risk Management

Discuss the relationship of torts to risk management.

Quarter Credit Hours: 1 | Prerequisite: None

LS311M3: Elements of a Valid Contract

Analyze the elements of a valid contract.

Quarter Credit Hours: 1 | Prerequisite: None

LS311M4: Remedies for Breach of Contract

Analyze the remedies for breach of contract.

Quarter Credit Hours: 1 | Prerequisite: None

LS311M5: Agency and Employment Relationships

Examine agency and employment relationships.

Quarter Credit Hours: 1 | Prerequisite: None

LS311M6: Contrast Forms of Business Organizations

Contrast the various forms of business organizations.

Quarter Credit Hours: 1 | Prerequisite: None

LS312: Ethics and the Legal Environment

This course explores the legal principles and ethical theories that relate to business situations. The course examines the ethics of a business decision as it relates to stakeholders. Topics include the foundations of moral development and ethical decision making, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, stakeholder management, and the legal principles that apply to ethics in business.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: None

LS481: Directed Studies in Legal Studies

In this course, students in legal studies will engage in an independent, directed studies project focused on a student-submitted topic of inquiry. The student will select a topic of inquiry that is of interest and relevant to his or her professional goals.

Quarter Credit Hours: 1 | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year student or enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies degree option or the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree option

LS482: Directed Studies in Legal Studies

In this course, students in legal studies will engage in an independent, directed studies project focused on a student-submitted topic of inquiry. The student will select a topic of inquiry that is of interest and relevant to his or her professional goals.

Quarter Credit Hours: 2 | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year student or enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies degree option or the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree option

LS483: Directed Studies in Legal Studies

In this course, students in legal studies will engage in an independent, directed studies project focused on a student-submitted topic of inquiry. The student will select a topic of inquiry that is of interest and relevant to his or her professional goals.

Quarter Credit Hours: 3 | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year student or enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies degree option or the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree option

LS484: Directed Studies in Legal Studies

In this course, students in legal studies will engage in an independent, directed studies project focused on a student-submitted topic of inquiry. The student will select a topic of inquiry that is of interest and relevant to his or her professional goals.

Quarter Credit Hours: 4 | Prerequisite: Third- or fourth-year student or enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies degree option or the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies degree option

LS490: Legal Philosophy

This course provides the student with an opportunity to look at a number of historically significant philosophical and legal thinkers and theories. The student will analyze and compare them to the American theoretical and philosophical system. Critical thinking skills and communication competence are built through the individual and collaborative discussion and analysis process. Upon completion of the final project, the student will be able to identify the most historically significant legal philosophers and assess American legal philosophy in historical context. Further, philosophical thinking that contributed directly to the design of our system will be understood in current legal context.

This course is designed as the culminating experience of the Bachelor of Science in Legal Support and Services. This course comprises a series of assignments that integrate the core concepts from the judicial studies and practice program outcomes and curriculum. The assignments are designed to test application and critical thinking skills as students work through fact-based scenarios and analyze issues affecting practical legal matters.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: Last term or Dean approval

LS498: Bachelor's Capstone in Legal Studies

This course is designed as the culminating experience of the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. The course focuses on conducting approved scholarly research and the final e-portfolio submission. The research emphasis is on law and literature review, and synthesizing relevant law and scholarly research. Submission of a formal research paper is the height of the course.

Quarter Credit Hours: 6 | Prerequisite: Last term or permission from the Dean